Social Interest Solutions Releases Infographic Showing 2016 Changes in HealthCare.gov Plans

Shopping for New Plans During Open Enrollment May Result in Best Value for Consumers

Social Interest Solutions (SIS), a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to health and social services through technology and policy solutions, today released the fourth installment of its Affordable Care Act (ACA) Spotlight infographic series, Health Plan Cost and Choice in 2016. The infographic compares health insurance plan data from HealthCare.gov by county for 2015 and 2016 to illustrate changes in cost and choice.

Consumers in 38 states can use HealthCare.gov to shop for health insurance. Their options at HealthCare.gov change every year as health insurance issuers decide whether to enter or leave the marketplace, change the number and types of health plans they offer, or change the premiums they charge. Consumers have the opportunity to choose among a range of offerings during an annual Open Enrollment period. The ACA Spotlight illustrates how widely these changes can vary. For example, the monthly premium costs for the second-lowest-cost silver plan for a 21-year-old increased by 48% between 2015 and 2016 in Gibson County, Tennessee, but decreased by 23% in Jackson County, Indiana.

“In places where plan offerings changed significantly in cost, number, or type, returning consumers interested in getting the best value may want to consider shopping for new plans at HealthCare.gov instead of letting their current plans automatically renew,” said Terri Shaw, Director of Policy at Social Interest Solutions. “The Department of Health and Human Services recently released a report that confirms this, saying that returning consumers who shopped and switched plans in the previous Open Enrollment period saved, on average, nearly $400 over the year.”

The Health Plan Cost and Choice in 2016 Spotlight can be found here.

About the ACA Spotlight Series
The ACA Spotlight is an infographic series highlighting effects of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on individuals and families. Each Spotlight illustrates how ACA policies impact health insurance access and affordability through Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Qualified Health Plans and subsidies offered through health insurance exchanges.

About Social Interest Solutions
Social Interest Solutions (SIS) is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving access to quality health and social services through technology and policy solutions. SIS has successfully developed and deployed pioneering technology solutions that have positively impacted the quality of life for the nation’s underserved population, and has supported the implementation of the ACA in several states. Our signature One-e-App technology platform enables individuals and families to efficiently identify, access, and enroll in eligible public and private health and social services. Other SIS products help consumers and the organizations and agencies serving them connect to benefits and services and operate more effectively and efficiently.

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